I have always drawn from being a very small child. I started painting landscapes in oil years ago aged 10. I absolutely love nature, wild life and the natural world and think I have imparted this to all of our children. I was a voluntary tour guide at the Natural History Museum as a young mother. “ I studied art at the University of Hertfordshire BA (Hons) Fine Art 1997. I have run a professional studio for several years and taught art and life drawing before going on to study and practice millinery working as a model milliner until 2020. I returned to painting in the Autumn of 2022 and feel I have ‘come home’. I haven’t stopped painting since. My paintings recently have been based on my woodland walks recording my impressions of the amazing fungi I find there. I am still working on this subject matter and have also started working on some large landscapes taken from ideas developed during my travels. I also like the change of focus .
I exhibited in the Art Trail, part of the Hitchin Festival as my first exhibition in a long time last year and also showed my paintings at the Baldock Art and Heritage Centre, Sept 2023 as part of the Open Studios as a new member of HVAF. When I wanted to get back into my art I returned to oil painting classes for a couple of terms to get my confidence back and at the same time returned to Life Drawing on a regular basis. Drawing is something I have done all my life. Life drawing really helps (tests) my observational skills.
Just recently, Feb '24 I have completed my first floral painting, much as a challenge to myself, as I have felt that flowers in oil can look a bit 'lumpy' so the challenge to myself was to try and attain and show their delicacy. This painting is called Last of the Summer Flowers which I have entered into a competition at my greetings card printers.

I have 3 greeting cards available of my woodland themed work ‘Magpie Inkcap’, ‘Babes in the Wood’ and ‘Moss and Pinkgills’ (see above) available to purchase at £3 each in biodegradable cellophane wraps...or they can be found in the Mill shop at Jordans Mill. Message me on beabrownart@gmail.com.